Cutoff device for controlling the bulk supply of liquid dispensing apparatus



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FOR C0 Filed OF LIQUID DIS Dec. 19, 1944.

CUTQFF DEvIcE V" Il Dec. 19, 1944. c. s'. HAZARD 2,365,192

CUTOFF DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Filed April 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS Dec. 19, 1944.c. s. HAZARD 2,365,192

4 CUTOFF DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE BULK SUPPLY OF LIQUID DISPENSINGAPPARATUS d INVENTOR ATTORNEYS .Maris J. l/dzam Patented Dec. 19, y1944CUTOFF DEVICE FOR coN'rRoLLlNG y'rmiv -BULK SUPPLY F LIQUID msPENsmG fAPPARATUS Charles S. uHazard, Andover,r J., assgnor to Neptune MeterCompa Jersey l. Application April s, 1940, serial Nov.fs2s,44s l ny, aA`corporation of New 4 oiai'ms.' (c1. zzz-Tco) a This invention relates toliquid dispensingapparatusl and more particularly to a cut-olf device`for controlling the bulk supply ofliquid for liquid dispensingapparatus.

In the' wholesale distribution of liquid fuel,l such as gasoline, toautomobile service stations orlike' retail establishments, it has been,in many'instances, the practice of retailers to order'quantities ofliquid much smaller than the capacity off the bulk supply tanksof theirliquid dispensing' apparatus. For example, a retailer vmay have a bulksupply tank having a vcapacity of 1500er 2000 gallons, but'instead ofpurchasing sufficient fuel to' completely fill the tank, he mayonly-order two, three or four hundred gallons at a time.-

This is frequently due to' lack o-f credit or lowv The above and otherobjects of the invention may be accomplished b'y-providing the usualreworking capital. The buyingof smallqu'antities n by these retailersusually makes itnecessary for the wholesale distributor to send a heavytankl wagon'to'deliver each small order, thereby,A in many instances,involving an aggregate expense of five to as ymany as ten trips todeliver anv amount of liquid fuel which otherwise could have beendelivered -by a single trip; This practice on the part of alarge'nurnber of vretail distributors hasl added materially to theexpenseof wholesale distribution. i

It is therefore an object of thepresent invention to `provide `meansenabling the wholesaler to reduce the cost of wholesale distributionofliquid fuel to retail distributors who make a practice of orderingliquidfuel in amounts considerably smaller than the capacity of the bulksupplytanks with which their liquid dispensingapparatus are provided. i.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for placingthe-capacity ofthe bulk supply tail dispensing-apparatus with meansadapted to.

beA preset bythe wholesale distributor or his authorized agent towpermitthev withdrawal of only the amount ofv liquid from the bulk supply tankwhichxhas been bargained or paid-for by the retailer. The wholesaler maythen completely ll the bulk supply tank and thereby-materially reducethe' number of'tank wagon-trips-heretoforerequired. f f -k v- ,l

The invention includes,f'in association Witha liquid dispensingapparatusof one of the -conventional types, ajbulkv delivery control mecha# nismcomprising a cut-off device interposedin or otherwise operativelyassociated with a liquid suplply line for the liquid dispensingapparatus. The

control mechanism also'includes oris associatedV with aregisteringormetering device adapted to cause actuation of theicut-offdevice and-thereby prevent iow of liquid from the bulk supply toand through the dispensingapparatus when `a predetermined quantity pofliquid has been delivered.

l The bulk delivery rcontrol mechanism isso artanks of retail dispensingapparatus underfcontrolof the wholesale distributor or his authorizedagents so that the tanks may be completely lled:

and the amounts withdrawn limited by the wholesaler or his agents inaccordance with the extent of credit allowed the retailer or the amountpaid "Aifurther object of the invention 'comprises the.

provision of a form of cut-off-or vdelivery. disablingdevice forcontrolling the bulk supply to retail dispensing` pumps or otherdispensing apparatus which is capable of being reset only b those havingproper authority. y

A stillA further object of the invention is the provision of anindicator or. signal device in combination with the cut-oil device toforewarn the arranged for has been delivered.,

retailer when nearly all of theamount ofrliqui'd` ranged in referencetothe conventional ,elements of the dispensing apparatus as to permitthe predetermined quantity 'of liquid to be dispensed in the usualretail amounts, and the resetting of the usual cost and volume registersafter each retail sale "does not in any way interfere with theprogressive registering'ormetering operation that is performed by thebulk delivery control. The bulk delivery control mechanism is adaptedfor construction as a unit-for use in controlling bulk supplyin'gvarious dispensing or delivery. systems where delivery ofpredetermined quantities must` be maintainedunder lcontrolof certainauthorized persons. I The cut-off rfeatureof the bulk control mechanismmay take any'of `various forms. annple, it may consist of flow controlmeans, such as: a .cut-off valve, a suction disabling means -for thepump,-a 'valve controlled by-pass between the discharge andsuction sidesof the pump or other control means whereby the delivery of liquid-from'the'bulk supply tank can be 'discontinued upon the withdrawal of aypredetermined amounty for which the retailer Vhas bargained;

In ordertto maintain the cut-oflfdevicey under the' controlv of thewholesale distributor, the dep vice may be yprovide'd with means adaptedto be manipulated only by a person` properly 'authorized, whereby" theflowcontrol'm'eans may be re-"` set .andthe registering orpredetermining means set .to provide for` al further ydelivery ofliquid.

For exfore cut-oi of further delivery will take place.

The hereinbefore mentioned; andfad'ditional ob: jects of the inventionWillbecome'inrther.. ap parent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description, when consideredin connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, iniwliich:

Figure 1 is a view in sectioned elevation ofa retail dispensingapparatus provided with one form of cut-01T device of thepresentiinvention;`

Figure 2 is a plan view oi thecut-oi device with the housing in sectionto show the mechanism contained" therein;

Figuren' isaview in :vertical sectionntaken'sub- 1 stantiallyalong line4:-4i'ofFigure'3;: y

liigure1 5:*y is a.- View: in'A elevation: of: the=l cute. off.: devicefshowingrtheamanual settiniggrknob. dicator'dial;

Figure 6 isa-.view inv vertical section ofithesvalve; operating and:Alatcliing. mechanism; taken'. sube stantially along line 6-6 of Figure2;.

Eiguref` 1f is as View; ina sectional elevation:l ofi a retaildispensingapparatustprovidedfwitha: modi-A neri-forniof bulkfsuppiycontrol means, ,and`

Eligurei isiaavievwflmvertical; sectionztaken sub'.- stantia'llylalongeline Sis-BriofEg-Hre `rI.

Referring; to zIEigs. Ltoi oflthe drawings;v one' form of thefinventionisshown illustrated :in'zcoml hination. with'. certain.essential s element-,s3 of tlie1 usuaL retail :dispensing apparatusVnow commonly: provided". in .i service x stations fors" supplyingliquid" fuel.' propelledivehicles: A's.F shown; im Fig; vlv the retailldispensing :apparatus comprisesaf b'ullrsup-r plyitanlct liusuallyiocatedzunderzground; a; pump lzlamotor: I4; aniair separator;IG-r, ameter' I8, aridia.E liquid ow indicatorfi A'.c0nduit .22'f isno'rn'iallyl provided connectinge the.A bulk: supplyi tanlrkr to the'inletf side: Z4-*Lofi theipuinp' I2; The discharge or'pressurelsitue'oi' thef pump 25 `is shown asconnectedto` an air .separator I6`whereby -airf' and .fvapor mav'fbe; separated from4v the liquid vfuelbefore passage of the-liquid tothe meter: I8.' The meter4 I8 may: beoperatively; connected to any.` suitable' computing register'.` 281i'capable of.1 iridi-I eating thee cost;y amountand .pri'cef. oftheliquid; disper1sed;`` f Y In?V order to.V provider accurate control?. ofthe withdrawal of liquid from the bulk suppiyt'ankfl 0f; the'. flowcontrol Ldevicer'. 30fis1advanta-geously locatedron therp'ressuresidezof the pump"v l2; .prefierably 'between thesdiscl'iargesideoftheiair separrater,A I Stand." the=fiowfindicatorf2$ as :shown/z in*Figure 1': The -oW-rcontrolfdevice@ fmaifvcom prise zanyyone?ofi'several 'fditt'erentrfornis ofmeans: for: controlling? the.delivery: of? liquidi from'.E the hullrisupplystanle'|10: As'shown:inFigs: 2L andrai the' control device. 30;?isffprovided with* a;cut-oilvalve 32 to preventl the delivery oflliquid'through the. meter; lB'and .the discharget'conduit 34;l

Moreparti'cularly, the` form 'of iiowf control device-:isprovidedzwithaliydraulio'rnotor 3.6 of theV metering typericonnected inthee` system: betweenth'emeterftzand.theedischarge conduit-3.4.'` The"vhydrauliclmotori-Sibis; provid'edlzwith -a. 'housing 38V having aninlet'tconnectionfa and anloutletcomV nection 48 (Figs. l and 2), theinlet connection being connected to the conduit 33 and the outletconnection being connected to the discharge conduit 34. While thecut-off valve 32 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to be associated with theoutlet connection 40, it will be understood that it may be associatedat' other points'in the" system or provided in various-by-pass orsuction disabling a1- rangements for controlling the delivery of liquidthrough the meter I 8.

Themec-hanism iorcontrolling the operation of the outLoffvalveas'viewedin Figs. 2 to 4, comprises 'ai-.reductionv gear drive 42 through whichmovementcorresponding to the flow of liquid is l,transmitted from thehydraulic motor 3B to a Worm 44 Which drives a worm gear 46. The wormgear 46 is rotatably mounted upon a collar 48 whichds keyedat' 49 to asleeve 50 supported in bearings 5I and through which a shaft 52 isslidably mounted. The worrngear 46 is operatively connectedby asuitablefriction clutch54 to the eolien-48: byfa nut546'-threadably-received on thecollar: 418.' The sleeve-fffcarriesacarri,60;(Figs'A 2, 3 and 4) which is adapted; to. be preset to actuate:a lvalve, tripping4 lever; 62for cut-off. purposes after, theldeliveryv oft a. predetermined: amount-,for liquid.

Referringtoliigures, 3,- 4 and-.6. of .the-draw ings; `the valve32 :isshown to be arcuately shaped.I to: fitr the :inner :surface of the.-housing. 3.8 `to adequately control .the dischargeconnectionr. Thereciprocation4 of: the valve is controlled. byA a;sprir'ig;biased.:sleeve ES-sIidably. received inza huhk 61 E suitablysupported in thefframeA structure -681' Tirez-.valve 32:.is'zconnected:to theisleeveby. an`

arm iifaszbest1 shown in.F=igures,--23 and 65 Mountedf onl .the hub 61,land extending.;4 ini spaced relationabovethe end oflthefhubisfa bracket'l0'which1supports a stemlzfaboutpwhicha spring 14 isf retainedtoloiasrthe'valve;sleeve 66KA in a downward: direction; Theihub': 67; isprovided ati TBL-Withran opening-through which an armi'l ofther.tripping. leven B2 is adapted'v to* extend and. latchthe.' valve-'sleeveB6 Sint open-.positionv asindicatedi4 iny Figure` 6. The trippingv lever62': is in tl'l'efgenerai form of a bellcrankapivoted at frand biased bya spring 82 toward latchingposition. The tripping'lever in plan:view(Eig. 2) comprises yai rectangular.'section 8.4 which isf-adaptedtoisurround the lower portion off-the Wormi gearv 45. An extension B5visprovided on the rectangularportion"84'Which-isispacedfrom the sleeve5l!A in -the' path aof movement-of: thefcam y.li 0.

The-'camSOmaybe'preset'to operate the valve after a predeterminedoperationof the hydraulic.

motor36; that.is;.aftera predetermined amountofliquid'has-been'withdrawnfrom the hulk suppl-yftank': The cambeingz'prese'twill registerfaf movement' until the predetermined' amountof liquid has-been delivered, and'lthen bydepressing-y the'extensionof'the."trippinglever-", move. the-farmzl lclockwise; as-viewed` irrEig;3,' tore-- lease,the;-valve-sleevea6fi. Theavalvesleevezbeing released,permits the spring 14 to forceetlfxe.valve:-31'acrossfthe".outletizconnection 40 ,to vpreventfurther delivery'ofliquid;I

- Th'e valve 32 and; the carrr illrof` theicutf--oif` device mayonly hepreset'fby thosei-havingpropen authorization; Forf example, the valve'32', the tripping lever 62 andthe'meansffor:resetting the; valveand,presetting the roam". lilly aref all' enclosed withina casing-;: (Figsv2 andz) Thefshaftiz' issiprovidedrwithan extensionzS.; which extendsfontwardlyc= of' the; casingfthrough ai suitable/bears. ing and stuningboxdgf ,tofzarmanuallyfactuatable knob 95. A'peripheral dialf'96appropriately marked to indicate the amountsvfor which the cut-offdevice may be preset is associated with the knob 95. The periphery ofthedial 96 is providedwith slots 91 which are adapted to co-y operate witha locking member 98 which includes a lug 99 adapted to extendr through aselected slot 91. The locking member 98 is also provided with an indexpointer which is adapted to overlap the edge of the dial to aid inthelocking thereof and to indicate the setting of the cam |50. Thelocking member 98 includes a sleeve IOI which is receivable within aboss I 02of the casing 90. The sleeve I 0| is Aadapted to be lockedwithin the boss |02 by a keycontrolled barrel |04 which when operatedbythe proper lkey may be turned to bring recesses I05in alignment withlocking lugs |06. The boss- I 02 may be provided with a spring |08 ltoaid in the unlocking and releasing movement of the member 98, a stop IIObeing provided to prevent the complete removal of the.

locking member 98 from the boss |02. A

For the purpose of resetting the valve when further withdrawal ofliquidfha's` been ,agreed upon between the retailer and the wholesaler,a

reset connection is provided for operation by the knob 95. As shown inFigure 3, the Ysleeve'lis provided with rackteeth II2 which areexposedthrough an opening I|4 in the hub 81.' A pinion I|6 is carried by theshaft 52 and when' the shaft is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure3, the pinion is brought into meshing engagement with the rack II2. Whenthe locking member 98 has been unlocked to release the dial portion 96,'the knob 95 may be slightly turned lto remove the cam- 60 from valvetripping position and then pulled outwardly of the casing 90 to bringthe pinion IIB into meshing engagement with the rack I I2. By rotatingthe knob 95 the pinion maybe operated to lift the valve 92 to an openposition' permitting the latch arm 18 to engage the lower end of asleeve 66. After resetting the valve 32, the cam E0 may be reset topermit-l a predetermined amount of liquid to be withdrawn from' the bulksupply tank before the valve 32 will again be rreleased to cut off theflow through'the discharge conduit 34. i Y y In order to provide for the.resetting ofthe. cam 60, an arm |20 (Fig. 3) is mounted .on the shaftextension 92. The arm r|2|) 4is provided 'with a pin I 2| which isbiased towardvcam enadjacent the dials of the computer for that willthen know that the liquid supply will soon' thorized resetting of thegaging position by a spring |22; 4lli/hen ztheknob I 95 is pulledoutwardly of the casing to reset the valve, the pin |22 will beretracted to a position fre of the cam 60. After the resetting of thevalve, the knob 95 must be moved 'toward the casing to vdisen-gag'e thepinion I I6 from the rack H2 before the cam 60 can-be properly reset.Should the pin |2| be in alignment with the cam 60. during thedisengaging movement of the pinion II5, the spring |22 will permit thepin |2| to retract, permitting the shifting of .i the shaft to completethe disengagement of the pinion. By rotating the knob 95, the pin |2|may be caused to return to operative position adjacent the cam 60. Inthis position the knob 95 may be again rotated clockwise, as viewed inFigure 5, to preset the cam to a desired position for actuation of thetripping lever 62. The clockwise movement of the dial 96 is discontinuedwhen the predetermined amount of liquid to be delivered is indicated atthe index |00. During liquid delivery the cam 60 will continue to movein a clockwise direction until it has registeredal movementcorresponding to the' predetermined purpose. Tovrender the element |23readily observable, the element may be brightly colored and arrangedformovement into view at a window |24 shortly vbefore the cut-off device'isadapted to be actuated. 'The operatorfofthe pump be cut off, say, aftervthe :furthery delivery of a few gallons of'liquid 'I'he attendant beingthus forewarned may make .arrangements for the aucut-ofi device prior tooperation thereof. f

The'means for actuatingl the indicator |23 comprises a pivoted arm |29`to whichv a connecting rod |21 is pivoted and extended through astuffing box |28 into `the casing 90 of the cutoff device. 'I'he lowerend 0f the rod |21 -is guided by a bracket |29 supported on the hub 91.Carried by the collar 48 is a cam I60'which is so arranged 'with respectto the cam 60 as to lift the rod I 21 prior to theactuation of the valvetrippinglever 62. The lifting movement of the rod v|21 is adapted tolmove the indicator |23 across the window |24 to indicate to theretailer or his attendant that the amount of liquid bargained for hasnearly all been delivered and that the cut-01T device will be actuatedupon the withdrawal of an additional determined amount of liquid. Whenthe cut-.off device-is reset, causing the cam I tobe moved from beneaththe and" arrangements aswell. For purposes of furi ther illustration, asecond form of the invention'is shown in Figures 'land 8. The elementsof the dispensing apparatus. in this form are the same'as illustrated inFigure 1. A modiedvform of owicontrol device |30 is provided whichl isadapted to disable the suction effect of the pump- I2 after the'owcontrol device has operated in response to the delivery of thepredeterminedamount for which the device has been set. The suctiondisabling of the pump I2 is accomplished by providing an atmosphericconnection I 34 to the conduit 22 on the'inlet side 24 of the pump. Theatmospheric connection which includes the conduit I3I is controlled by asuitably arranged valve |32.

connection with the device 30 except that an atmospheric control valve|32 is substituted for the cut-off valve 32.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the conduit I3| leads from the suction side24 ofthe pump I2 amount for which the device is set. When it has Theentire mechanism of the flow ,control device may be the same asdisclosed in tofthe atmosphericsconnection: I 34', which .is-.pro videdn with avalve v-seatl 35 '-for: cooperation with f the valve i321 Whenthe valve`rl32 isiinclosed position, ,the suction'effectrolV the pumplisniain-r tained toipermit-thewithdrawal off liquid from: the supp-1ytank for dispensing. purposes. When theV flowcontrol` device' i 30operates upon the withdrawal of apredetermined' amount of: liquid forwhich thedeviceis preset, the'valved 326Wil1i bel tripped open-therebyfestablishing atmospheric communication to the inletl side ofthe pump.'A Thisdisablesthe suctioneiect of the pump soA that furtherdelivery of liquidffrom-the supply tank is prevented until'thevvholesaledistributor or his agentresets the; deviceu |30 foranadditional predetermined' amount. Thisform mayalsofbe providedwithasignal device similar to theY indicator- |23r`orof other form andarrangement, if desired.

It will be apparentI from the foregoing de-r scription that the presentinvention materially. reduces' the number of tank wagon-trips heretoforerequired to supply the bulk-supply tanks of the dispensing apparatus ofretail serviceoperators who-consistently order small quantitiesof fuel.Instead of sending'a-heavy tank wagonin response to each small order,the'wholesaledise tributormay with the'installation of my'inven tion,completely fill the bulkr supply tank and setthe cut-offdevice-toreffect delivery ofonly theamount of fuelto theextent for whichthe retailer hasbargained." When additional amounts are ordered, the:wholesaleV distributor ori his authorized agent' in the-vicinity' ofthe.l retail. establishment may reset the device .to permit furtherwithdrawal ofliquid'from' theI bulksupply tank without requiringexpensive trips with the heavyitank wagonsfuntiltheibulk supplytank isnearly empty.'

While 4I have shown and described certain 'different forms ofmy'invention, I-amfully aware" that many additional forms arepossiblewithout departing from the spirit of the invention; For thisreason itshould be understood that theI forms of the invention hereinillustrated and described are intended to'be illustrative ofthe'invention only and not asl limiting the? scopeiof ther ap-rv pendedclaims; i

I claim:

1. In apparatus for retailing liquid, a bulk supply tank; afp'ump foreffecting deliveryof. liquid from Vsaid supply tank, a'hydraulic motorlocated on-the dischargelsidei of said pump andidriven by the liquiddelivered thereby, presettable'means including a camI surface adaptedto` bedriven nectedtotheenlet side ofstheipumnza valve controlling"communication of the'A conduit with* the atmosphere, and meansvoperatively associated withlthe cam surface toeffect the opening .ofsaid valve when.. an amountV of liquid predetermined by the :initialsetting ofthe cam surface has been Withdrawn .from the tank- 2. Inliquid dispensing apparatus of the chars acter described, abulk supplytank, a pump,a suction pipe extending from the pump to the tank, a`vent-connection for the suction` pipe, a valve to yc'ontrolthe Ventconnection, a hydraulic niotorv driven by liquid delivered by said pump,presettable means adapted to be driven by the motor an .amountcorresponding to the aggregate amount'of the liquid withdrawnifrom saidtank duringia plurality of dispensing operations, and meansvcontrolledby said presettable means to automatically open said valvewhen an amount of liquid has been Withdrawn for which said presettablemeans -Wererset 3. In liquid dispensing apparatus of the characterdescribed, afbulk supply-tank, a pump, a suction pipe' extending fromthe pump to the tank, a vent connection. for the suction pipe, a valveto control the'vent connection, a hydraulic motor driven by liquiddelivered by said pump,y presettable means-adapted to'be driven by themotor an amount'corresponding'to the aggregate amount of theliquidwithdravvn from said tank during a plurality of dispensingoperations, a signal device, means controlled `by said presettable meansto opensaid valve when a predetermined amount of' liquid has beendeliveredwhich predetermined amount is determined by. the setting ofsaidpre'settable means, and to actuate said signal deviceinpredetermined advanced relation to the opening ofsaid valve.

4'. In liquid dispensing apparatus of the char-y acterV described, a'bulk supply tank, a pump, a suctionpipe extending from the pump to thetank, avent connection for the suction pipe, a valve to control the ventconnection, a hydraulic motor driven by liquid delivered'by said pump,presettable means' adapted to be driven by the motor an amountcorresponding to the aggregate amount of the liquid withdrawn from saidtank during a plurality of dispensing operations, said presettable meanshaving an indicator presettable to indicatea predetermined amountofliquid `that can be Withdrawn, a lock for said presettablemeans-toprevent unauthorized change in the setting of said indicator, and meanscontrolled by said presettable means to automatically open said valvewhen an amount of liquid has been withdrawn forwhich said presettablemeans were set.

CHARLES S. HAZARD.

